Louis C.K. Stands Up For T.M.

New York City, NY – On Saturday evening April 30th, The David Lynch Foundation (DLF) hosted “An Amazing Night of Comedy” at New York City Center in Manhattan. The David Lynch Foundation is a large, non-profit organization that promotes the benefits of Transcendental Meditation (TM). Headlined by Louis C.K and featuring comedians including Gilbert Gottfried, Jim Gaffigan, Vanessa Bayer, all proceeds generated by the fundraiser were donated to veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

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Through DLF’s Operation Warrior Wellness, numerous veterans have found very helpful ally in TM to combat PTSD. So, what is Transcendental Meditation?

What Is Transcendental Meditation (TM)?

Transcendental Meditation is a mantra based form of meditation with roots in the Vedic texts of Hinduism.

TM is traditionally exercised in a sitting position with one’s eyes closed. Each TM session is practiced for roughly 15-20 minutes, twice daily.

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Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

What is known today as TM is largely a product of a movement popularized by the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. “The Maharishi,” as he was known by his followers, found his popularity increase exponentially following his association with The Beatles and the time the group spent in India under Maharishi’s tutelage. However, the Beatles were not the last pop-culture icons to share their experiences with TM techniques.

The David Lynch Foundation

The David Lynch Foundation was founded by famous filmmaker and longtime practitioner of TM,David Lynch. The DLF in a non-profit social enterprise with multifaceted initiatives regarding TM. It is their core belief that TM provides exceptional benefits to people in a variety of difficult situations.

The DLF asserts that the candidates most likely to benefit from TM include, but are not limited to: prison inmates, students aiming to improve focus, managing psychological conditions (e.g. PTSD), those looking to overcome physical injury, or even helping to cope with the trauma related to domestic abuse.

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According to The David Lynch Foundation, these are their stated organizational initiatives:

Educate societal policy makers about the benefits of TM, and how it may benefit the life of citizens exposed to it. The DLF additionally does so with the prominent leaders of the private sector, demonstrating how it may improve employee productivity, quality of their work, and foster a more congenial working environment.

The DLF fund raising efforts include doing so for the purpose of commissioning objective and clinically sound research to better understand the physiological implications of those who consistently practice TM.

Some of the money generated by the DLF is earmarked to expand and establish TM programs on a global basis. Ultimately taking the meditation practice to peoples the world over with differing needs.

One of the greatest priorities of the DLF is to create TM centers and programs that predominantly serve “at-risk” individuals. “At-risk” individuals usually denote those who could not otherwise afford the tuition to learn TM, but are believed to be people who could improve their lives incalculably if given the opportunity.

The professional efforts of such celebrities volunteering their talents such as Louis C.K. guarantee a healthy future for the goals and aims of The David Lynch Foundation. Though despite the growing popularity of the technique, most people are still unaware of Transcendental Meditation in general.

Many performers volunteer their talents for the organization, and seldom choose to go into detail about their personal revelations practicing TM. Instead allowing their volunteered talents speak to the impact TM has had in their life, and their belief in the importance of the organizations mission.

Paul K. DiCostanzo is the Managing Editor for TGNR. He is a noted public speaker, an emerging historian of the Second World War, a vocal advocate for Crohn’s Disease/Ulcerative Colitis, and is a highly regarded interviewer.
Paul is author of the reader submitted Q&A column: WW2 Brain Bucket. The Brain Bucket answers readers questions on all things regarding the Second World War.
Paul has served as Managing Editor for TGNR since March 2015. Prior to TGNR, Paul has a background in American National Security and American Foreign Policy.